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Poetry Evening with Nia Broomhall
by Shikha Bansal
Nia Broomhall is an award-winning poet and holds an MA with distinction in Creative Writing from Lancaster University. She is Poet in Residence at Painshill Park in Cobham and won the 2023 Mslexia Women’s Poetry Pamphlet Competition for her debut pamphlet Backalong, published by Bloodaxe Books in September 2024.
In her two-hour workshop on 11 November, attended on Zoom by an intimate gathering of passionate poets and expertly moderated by Holly Sykes, Nia introduced WiPS members and guests to evocative and beautifully crafted poems and writing prompts to get the group started. She managed to give us a sense of safety and create an atmosphere of ease wherein we could express ourselves freely and share our first formed words without fear of judgement or censure.
It was a treat to spend an evening with like-minded writers reading, writing and discussing poetry, and leaving the workshop with several pieces of poetry in draft. It is not very often we get a chance to indulge in an evening of poetry and attempt to articulate that which is often times inexpressible. In the words of Robert Frost, “A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.” Nia Broomhall helped us draw out from our individual wells of experiences and do just that. It was a perfect way to end a week day and we are grateful to Nia for her compassionate leadership.
Manuscript to Market: Write Local Sell Global
By Jenette del Mundo
This highly engaging talk by Jo Lusby, former CEO of Penguin Random House-North Asia, moderated by WiPS member Sophia Hotung, provided a wealth of advice and useful tips. Jo currently represents IP rights in Asia for specific titles and serves as an author’s agent for narrative non-fiction work, and more recently sci-fi. She gave us an understanding of the workings of the publishing industry, including the importance of finding a literary agent, leveraging the power of social media and being authentic to stand out in what has become a vastly crowded world, especially since AI’s appearance.
The publishing industry in Hong Kong is small compared with Singapore and Beijing’s, and while Blacksmith Books and Earnshaw publish books in English, their annual output from the deluge of submissions they receive is limited. An alternative is vanity publishing: a form of self-publishing through companies like IngramSpark who get a lot of the groundwork done for you, such as editing, layout, book cover design and distribution. Although this comes with a price, a closer understanding and cost-benefit review may prove its worth. Vanity publishing has produced many success stories. KDP Kindle from Amazon is another option, but lately it has suffered a heavy backlash because of misleading AI-generated information and stories.
Finding a literary agent makes sense, but know that agents have no financial obligation to sell your books. They will sell what they can and help you connect to the right publisher and editor, but the process of finalizing and sending proposals to authors is lengthy. Check your local bookstore for agents. “Search for similar genre books written preferably by lesser-known authors,” says Jo, “and take note of agents’ names and details.” Literary festivals are another source where publishers and agents gather looking for talented authors. Jaipur and Singapore are good festivals to learn and network from.
To increase your chances of getting published be authentic, sell where you feel relevant, be discoverable, build your following and look further afield if local resources are lacking.
The talk ended with a Q&A and a huge thank you to both Jo and Sophia.
WiPS Newsletter (October 2025)
Message from the Committee
As we progress from cleverly crafted mid-autumn paper lanterns to the haunting grins of jack-o’-lanterns, we eagerly await cooler breezes to prevail in Hong Kong after the soaring heat of summer. Meanwhile, we invite all WiPS members to join us in our various upcoming Zoom events. These will include a Manuscript to Market talk, a Poetry Workshop from the poet in residence at beautiful Painshill Park in Surrey and a spooky gothic novel at Book Club. Also coming up are the first-ever in-person Writing Workshop and a festive collaboration with Gentle Books.
We look forward to seeing you at one or all these events!
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
We would like to advise members that membership renewal notices for 2026 will be sent out in mid-November. We hope you will all wish to continue to support WiPS by remaining in and contributing to the group. Subscription fees will remain the same and are due by the end of December 2025.
Upcoming Events
[Please go to our website under EVENTS for details and registration for all our upcoming events.]
Write Local, Sell Global
Join us over Zoom on 28 October at 6.30pm as publishing expert Jo Lusby talks to our very own Sophia Hotung about how Hong Kong-based authors writing locally can take their books to an international audience. (Recording of the session will be available for 7 days after the event to those registered.)
Book Club’s Rebecca
Following the success of September’s Short Story theme, we will coordinate another selection of short stories for a month in the new year. Also, we look forward in the new year to an in-person Book Club meeting. Watch this space!
Our October Book Club theme is Suspense! This month we dive into Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier’s classic 1938 gothic novel. The psychological thriller, set in a scenic cliffside estate in Cornwall, details a young woman’s obsession with her wealthy husband’s deceased first wife. Thursday, 30 October, 7pm.
In-person Writing Workshop
Enjoy cocktails and more as we share feedback in our first Writing Workshop in November. Table reserved 6 November at 6.30pm under “Andy Lowe” in the upstairs area of Urban Coffee Roasters (aka Perfume Trees Gin) at 35 Hollywood Road, Central. Registration is required.
Virtual Writing Workshop
The second of our November Writing Workshops, 14 November, 12 noon-2pm, will be on Zoom. Details of dial-in links are at the top of the WhatsApp group (scroll down from the WiPS icon). Registration is required.
Nia Broomhall Poetry Workshop
We’re thrilled to announce a Poetry Workshop led by award-winning, published poet Nia Broomhall, on Heritage and Identity. Join us on Tuesday, 11 November, 6.30-8.30pm (Zoom) where we’ll be guided by Nia through practical exercises to connect with our roots and deepen our craft. Whether you’re a budding poet or a seasoned writer, don’t miss this opportunity to unlock your voice and tell your unique story! Registration open.
A Festive Dinner with Gentle Books
In our first-ever collaboration with Gentle Books, WiPS is excited to bring you a holiday-inspired “Dinner with Gentle Books” on 3 December 2025. Watch this space for more details.
Imprint 24
More than fifty members will have submissions in our next issue of Imprint. We thank everyone for respecting the deadline as we need to go to print early, ahead of the late date of Chinese New Year. Editing and typesetting are now well under way. The diversity of contributions has yet again been astonishing and has enabled us to assemble what we know will be another dazzling anthology. The launch will be on 4 March 2026, as part of the HKILF. Please save the date.
Past Events
While Book Clubs and Writing Workshops remained a constant throughout our hot and stormy summer, we were pleased also to squeeze in several workshops on “Giving Feedback” in which we covered tips on how to create constructive feedback for your fellow writers and help them improve their stories.
As much as we love the inclusivity of online events, nothing replaces the warmth of an in-person gathering over wine and nibbles in the cosy premises of AWA where we recently hosted Clare Baldwin as she spoke with Treena Nairne about her sometimes harrowing pursuit of truths when they mattered most.
New Members
Since our last newsletter, four new members have joined us: Ruth Henderson, Such Kaushiva, Vicko Leung and Sabina Wong. Prime Sarmiento has rejoined us.
Vicko Leung
Vicko has nurtured a passion for writing as means of self-expression. She also enjoys studying languages, seeing it as another way to explore the world.
Sabina Wong
Sabina is a painter who works mainly in oils. Previously, she was associate editor at local Hong Kong magazine Baccarat, and also authored and illustrated a series of travel guides, “Fun Excursions in Hong Kong”. She is now exploring writing as a new creative space and is excited to join WiPS.
Investigative Journalism: Uncovering Truths
by Shivani Sarwal
On 3 September, award-winning journalist Clare Baldwin joined Treena Nairne for an engaging discussion at the AWA offices, where more than thirty WiPS members and guests gathered to hear insights from the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner.
The hour that followed was charged with quiet intensity as Clare shared the investigative methods behind her reporting of the highly politicized Philippines drug war (2018) and the expulsion and murder of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar (2019). Her work was built on painstaking evidence-gathering and data analysis. “Photos, GPS coordinates, police records, interviews – map patterns and look for inconsistencies; that’s where the story lies,” she explained.
Clare noted that being underestimated as a female journalist often gave her greater traction – “a superpower”, she called it.
When Treena asked about balancing the need to expose the truth against the potential harm a story could cause, Clare emphasized a journalist’s ethical obligation to safeguard sources and subjects and to give everyone in a story a chance to respond to any allegations against them.
An audience member asked whether she had ever backed away from a story due to pressure from police or other authorities. She hadn’t. With victims and their families she is careful to explain how public their stories will become. “Trust is key,” she said. “Ask permission and bring humanity to the conversation.”
Clare closed the evening with a poignant reminder: these stories matter. They ripple out – reported, requoted and reshared – often with a far wider reach and impact than one could ever anticipate.
How Authors Build Buzz
WiPS held a highly useful Zoom workshop for writers on 12 June on the topic of which social media and marketing platforms to use in self-promotion. Moderated by Julia Besnard, the panellists, Elle Kwan, Maureen Tai and Sophia Hotung, provided candid and practical insights into how to build a meaningful and sustainable online presence best suited to the genre of work and audience. More than 30 members registered: 25 attended live; the recorded session accessible for 7 days.
Julia began by defining the leading marketing channels available to writers, from Instagram and Substack to podcasts and websites. She then asked the panellists: “What is your goal for promoting your work on these platforms?”
Elle, Maureen and Sophia each shared their intentions in building their online presence and described the unique advantages of each platform, illustrating the benefits with on-screen shots of their websites and social media accounts.
All emphasized the importance of finding a platform where you enjoy spending time and can connect with like-minded individuals, ensuring that it remains fun while maintaining your own clear boundaries.
Promoting oneself is essential if you are looking for work, trying to create an audience, or wanting to sell something. Julia and Elle highlighted the marketing value and longevity of podcasts; Maureen stressed the importance of being realistic about your goals; and Sophia showcased her strategy by focusing on her Instagram account.
This professional and engaging event concluded with a brief Q&A session, during which the Zoom chat box overflowed with appreciation for the actionable tips and valuable insights shared.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Fang Wei is business mogul wannabe turned sleep coach and Qigong instructor, who decided to take English writing seriously at 40. She is ambitiously pursuing two writing projects: a book about sleep (that is too funny to put readers to sleep), and another adventure fiction set in the Middle Kingdom and inspired by The Hobbit. Follow Fang on Substack.
Would you like to review an upcoming WiPS event?
WHAT’S NEXT?
We’re planning more events in our new series, From Manuscript to Market. We’re aiming to record Zoom events so that, even if you can’t participate in real-time, registrants have a week’s access to video recordings, plus the opportunity to ask their own follow-up questions. Stay tuned for future WiPS events about getting your work to readers.
Migrant Writers Learn to Heal Through Writing
by Rinkoo Ramchandani
WiPS committee member Rinkoo Ramchandani led a workshop on 27 April at the Africa Centre for members of Migrant Writers of Hong Kong, a group created for aspiring and talented migrant writers and artists in Hong Kong and around the world. The session on “Writing to Heal” focused on using prompts to help ease stress, anxieties, and fears or to simply relax at the end of a hard day. Here’s what a couple of the appreciative participants had to say:
“After attending today’s workshop, I understand more about the points in the art of writing. I feel more confident in expressing my emotions freely without limits. Thank you for the opportunity to share knowledge in this healing method.” Reyka
“It was my dream to write, but I didn’t know when and how to start. I didn’t know how to put my ideas/thoughts into writing. Today I learned that even in 1 minute I can write something. ‘Stream of consciousness’ is awesome. I like to do it and see what I can write. Thank you very much for today.” Analyn